Etching apparatus.



L E. LEVY.

ETCHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.9. 1911. RENEWED SEPT.21, 191 5.

1,1@6,3?8e Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

COLUMBIA ULANOUIZAPH c0., WASHINGTON. 0, c4

@ATES; WANT LOUIS E. LEVY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOE TO GRAPHIC ARTS COMPANY, OE PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

ETOHING APPARATUS.

Application filed. January 9, 1911, Serial No. 601,616.

To all 1071.077 it may concern Be it known that T, LOUIS E. LEVY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Etching Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to etching by means of a liquid erodent which is projected upon the surface to be cut away, and embodies an apparatus for etching to effect in a rapid manner the erosion of the surface against which the etching fluid is impacted.

he apparatus or machine in which is embodied my invention is constructed to include means for spraying a liquid erodent, upon the plate, means for moving or turning the plate and means for washing by projecting water or a cleansing fluid upon the plate by way of the same means that are used for projecting the acid thereon, and means for reducing the temperature of the liquid erodent prior to projecting the same against the plate to be etched, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth and specifically pointed out in the claims.

The apparatus which forms part of the subject matter of this application is one which may be used for etching plates or metal surfaces for varied purposes as for producing rapidly printing plates, eroding metal to produce ornamental designs thereon, for use in the manufacture of signs and generally for such purposes where metals are etched for use in the arts.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of an etching apparatus constructed in accord with my invention, and Fig. 2 is a plan view.

Upon a stand or table is mounted a chamber or case A of acid-proof material, the upper portion of said case having an opening about which is secured. a ventilating pipe for carrying away the fumes which are given olf during the process of etching. In the lower portion of the case is a trough or chamber a having an inclined bottom to which is attached a pipe for conveying a fluid therefrom. To one side of the case is attached a hollow chamber B, which carries a series of nozzles b which project toward a disk C, upon which is placed the plate to be etched. The disk C is carried by a shaft Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

Renewed September 21, 1915. Serial No. 51,893.

a mounted in journals or bearings attached to the case and to a standard which is bolted to the case and stand. The shaft 0 has a threaded portion upon which is mounted a hand-wheel 0 so as to be positioned between the bearings and this hand-wheel engages threads on the shaft 0, so that by turning the hand-wheel the disk C may be moved to and from the nozzles b. The outer end of the shaft 0 carries a pulley so that the shaft and plate-carrying disk C may be turned during the process of etching.

The case A may be constructed so that one end can be removed for the purpose of attaching the plate to be etched to the disk and the case and all parts of the apparatus with which the acid is liable to come in con tact, is made of acid proof material such as gutta-percha, glass or aluminum and where the parts are not of acid-proof material they may be coated with asphaltum or paraflin.

Below the table or stand'is a jar or tank I) which is set in a vessel D in which is placed ice to reduce the temperature of the acid or liquid ercdent which is forced from the jar D through the nozzles upon the surface to be etched. The jar D is connected to the hollow chamber 13 which carries the nozzles by a pipe (Z which passes through an opening in the top of the jar and extends to a point near its bottom and at a suitable point above the jar D are two jars or receptacles E, E which are connected to the pipe (Z by branch pipes cl and d the pipes having suitable cut-off valves as shown. In one of the jars E is placed acid or the etching liquid and in the other jar a suitable diluent which may be water, and the pipe d has a suitable valve or cutoff (Z with a stem or handle. A pipe F is connected at one end to the jar D to enter its upper portion, this pipe F is also attached to the valve and when the valve is turned the jar D may be placed in communication either with the pipe F or with the air supply tank F The tank or trough a is connected by a pipe 9 to a tank G which is placed preferably below the table and chamber A, and from the bottom of said tank extends a pipe g which leads into the jar D said pipe having a suitable cutoff as shown. The pipe 9 has connected to the valve a branch pipe h which is joined to a pipe 11 which may lead to a sewer and lilo same there is coupled thereto a pipe L which has a valve Z and beyond said valve connects with the waste pipe h and from thence to the pipe i. The valve casing is has joined thereto a pipe K which connects with the pipe (Z. The several valve casings having stems or handles are arranged on a line with each other and are connected to a lever M so that said valve plugs will be turned in unison.

The jars E E are preferably provided with scales or gage marks and before starting the apparatus in operation the cutoff in the pipe 9 is closed and the acid or etching agent is let into the jar D, said jar having been surrounded by a refrigerant, if. it is desired to dilute the acid, water is passed from the j ar or receptacle E. Several receptacles or jars may be mounted on the stand and in them may be placed different acids for eroding different metals. The plate to be etched is attached to the disk O with its face to be operated upon toward the nozzles. When the valve f is properly adjusted, air under compression will pass through the pipe F into the jar I) and force the liquid therefrom upward through the'pipe cl into the hollow chamber B and out of the nozzles upon the plate, which plate is rotated or turned while the acid is being projected thereon, the acid which falls from the plate collects in the trough and passes therefrom into the tank or receptacle G. After the plate has been etched to a sufficient depth the lever M is moved from the position which it previously occupied to change simultaneously the position of the valve stems so that air under compression will enter the top of the water-tank I force the water through the pipes K, d and through the nozzles upon the plate to wash the etching-fluid therefrom the water falling into the tank 7 passes from the same through the pipe h to the sewer. The branch pipe L may be used to flush or wash the trough a and the tank G forthe waste acid, the )i 3e L bein l l g connected above the level of the water in the tank I prevents the water finding its way into. the air tank with which it is connected so that a body of air under compression will force the water out of the tank when -'the valve Z is opened. The tank G may be either supported upon a stand, or the bottomthereof, as shown by dotted lines Fig. 1, may be maintained above the level of the bottom of the jar D. The

pipe 9 where it enters the tank G has an upturned end so that the fluid level in the jar D will be about on a line with the lower end of the pipe (Z. The casing A has at one end an opening which is closed by a slide which may be readily removed when it is desired to attach a plate to the plate carrier, the slide and the vertical grooves thereforare indicated by dotted lines on Fig. 2. The acid which collects in the tank G may be conveyed by the pipe g to the jar D so that it may be used over again.

It will be observed that with the apparatus shown, the plate to be etched is maintained in a vertical position and that said plate is kept turning as the etching proceeds which turning prevents the acid from flowing continuously in one direction upon the plate and thereby obviates undue undercutting of the lines. By providing means for reducing the temperature of the acid before applying it to the plate, acid of much greater strength can be used without danger of in'ipairing or destroying the resist, and the combined effect of the strong acid or liquid agent and the forcible impact of the same results in a more rapid erosion than could be effected by the usual methods.

It is obvious that numerous changes may be made as to the construction and arrangement of the parts for instance where a water supply under pressure is available, the "fltGE-tfillli I may be dispensed with and connection be made direct with the chamber B which carries the nozzles, water pressure may also be used for compressing air in a tank or receptacle which air may be supplied to the jar D above the level of the etching-agent or erodent. The hollow chamber which carries the nozzles may be circular or said nozzles can be attached to two or more pipes which may be merely perforated so as to project the acid in etching and the water in washing at right angles to the surface of the plate to be operated upon.

The plate-holder may be moved to and from the nozzles according to the force with which the acid is projected upon the plate and by providing such adjustment the position of the plate may be varied in accord with the force with which the acid is projected through the nozzles, and where the plate-holder is not supplied with this means for changing its position, the chamber B which carries the nozzles can be arranged or provided with means for moving the same and the nozzles carried thereby toward the plate or plate-holder. The plate-holder may be supported by reciprocatory means so that as it is rotated either by power or by a hand crank, the means for reciprocating the plateholder comprising slidable bearings which are moved by a cam upon the shaft 0, which cam is located in a chamber formed in bearings for the shaft.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for etching metal plates, a receptacle for etching fluid, means for refrigerating the etching fluid without diluting the same, means for projecting the fluid in the form of spray, a plate-support, means associated with the plate-support for maintaining a plate thereon with respect to the means for projecting the etching fluid. so that the spray will be projected horizontally and at right angles to the face of the plate and means cooperatively associated with the plate-holder for changing its position relative to the means for projecting the etching fluid.

2. In an apparatus for etching, a receptacle for etching fluid, means for varying the temperature of the etching fluid without diluting the same, a pipe leading from the receptacle to a series of nozzles, a plate support maintained vertically opposite said nozzles, means for turning said plate support, an air supply connected with the acid holding tank for projecting the acid through the nozzles and upon the plate.

3. An etching apparatus comprising a casing, a vertically maintained plate holder mounted upon a horizontally maintained support which extends within the casing, means for rotating the support and the plate holder associated therewith, means for spraying etching fluid which is maintained to occupy a fixed position within the casing and is located opposite the vertically maintained plate holder and parallel thereto.

4t. An etching apparatus comprising a casing, a plate holder maintained in a vertical position within the casing and associated with a rotatable and horizontally adjustable support, a sprayer maintained Within the casing said sprayer being provided with a plurality of nozzles through which liquid may be projected to be impacted against the face of a plate maintained by the plate holder.

5. An etching machine comprising a casing, asprayer maintained in fixed position within the casing, and provided with a plurality of openings through which liquid is projected horizontally, a plate holder maintained in a vertical position Within the easing to maintain a plate to be etched Within the range of the liquid projected by the sprayer and means associated with the plate holder for rotating the same.

6. An etching machine comprising a casing, a sprayer which is maintained to occupy a fixed position within the casing,

tit

means associated with the sprayer for projecting liquid in a horizontal direction from the sprayer, a vertically maintained plate holder which is rotatable within the casing, means attached to the plate holder for maintaining a plate so that the same will be with in the range of the liquid projected through the openings through the sprayer and a vent through the casing.

7. In an apparatus for etching, the combination of means for projecting an etching liquid in the form of spray, a plate maintained in range of the etching liquid in the form of spray and against which the spray is impacted, a plate-support maintained in a vertical position and parallel with the means for projecting the etching liquid against the plate and means for rotating the plateholder and the plate carried thereby.

8. In an etbhing apparatus, an acid proof chamber, means therein for spraying etching fluid aganist a plate to be etched, a rotatable support mounted on a horizontal axis to be maintained vertically within the chamber, means for rotating the support and the plate carried thereby while the fluid is being sprayed upon the plate, the instrumentalities being associated to locate the axis of the plate-holder in the same horizontal plane as is occupied by the center of the means for spraying the fluid against the plate.

9. An etching machine comprising a casing, a horizontally maintained shaft asso ciated with the casing, a vertically disposed plate carrier attached within the casing to the shaft, means for rotating the shaft and its associated plate carrier, a spraying device located within the casing and means for pro jecting etching fluid from the spraying device against a plate maintained by the plate carrier.

10. An etching apparatus comprising a casing, a vertically maintained and rotatable plate carrier within the casing, means for rotating the plate carrier supported by and extending through one of the walls of the casing, means for spraying fluid located within the casing and occupying a position opposite the plate carrier.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LOUIS E. LEVY.

Witnesses:

HOWARD LEVY, WM. II. J ONES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

